Households
Family blending
About this topic
Family blending classifies couple families with children according to whether the children are shared by both partners, from a previous relationship, or a mix of both. It applies only to couple families with children, not to all family types or all households.
This topic can help show patterns of repartnering and family complexity within an area. It should be interpreted with household type and households with children, because it is a specialised family-structure measure rather than a summary of all families.
Interpretation notes
- This derived family view applies only to couple families with children, not all families or all households.
- It classifies whether children are shared, step, or blended within the couple family, so it should not be compared directly with headline household totals.
Key insight
In 2021, intact families was the most common family type among couple families with children in Dunsborough, accounting for 80.3% (595 families). This share was higher than Busselton (C) (77.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in step families, which increased by 93 families and 12.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Family blending
Dunsborough - Total couples with children (Enumerated)
This table summarises family blending for Dunsborough in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Busselton (C) and change since 2016.
Family blending snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Dunsborough, with comparison markers for Busselton (C).
Intact Family
2021 count
595
% of total
80.3%
Change from 2016
-10.6pp
595
80.3%
-10.6pp
Step family
2021 count
123
% of total
16.6%
Change from 2016
+12.1pp
123
16.6%
+12.1pp
Blended family
2021 count
18
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
18
2.4%
-1.5pp
Other couple family
2021 count
4
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
4
0.5%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Family blending change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Intact Family
-13
-10.6pp
Step family
+93
+12.1pp
Blended family
-8
-1.5pp
Other couple family
+1
+0.1pp
Data table
Family blending for Dunsborough. Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Busselton (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Busselton (C)% | Count | % | Busselton (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Intact Family | 595 | 80.3% | 77.2% | 608 | 90.9% | 87.2% | -13 | -10.6pp |
| Step family | 123 | 16.6% | 18.1% | 30 | 4.5% | 7.6% | +93 | +12.1pp |
| Blended family | 18 | 2.4% | 4.3% | 26 | 3.9% | 4.9% | -8 | -1.5pp |
| Other couple family | 4 | 0.5% | 0.6% | 3 | 0.4% | 0.5% | +1 | +0.1pp |
| Total couples with children | 741 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 669 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +72 | 0.0pp |